Top-seeded Milos Raonic defeats Tim Smyczek at Delray Beach

Canada's Milos Raonic follows through on a return to Spain's Rafael Nadal during their quarterfinal at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill)

Andy Brownbill

February 21, 2017

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. (AP) No. 1 seed Milos Raonic opened with an easy win Tuesday in his first appearance at the Delray Beach Open.

Raonic, the fourth-ranked player in the world, defeated American qualifier Tim Smyczek 6-1, 6-4. The 26-year-old Canadian advanced to a second-round match against 59th-ranked Borna Coric of Croatia, who beat Santiago Giraldo of Colombia 6-2, 6-3.

No. 3 seed Jack Sock defeated Radu Albot 6-4, 7-6. Sock, the 21st-ranked player in the world and top American, was challenged by his opponent from Moldova. Albot was up 2-1 in the tiebreaker before Sock won six straight points, finishing the match with a strong forehand down the line.